Another Harry Potter movie actor has been recast for an upcoming adaptation of the Wizarding World, this time as a completely different character. Audible’s Harry Potter: The Full Cast Audio Editions recounts the entire seven-book story in audio form, but rather than a simple narration to act as a guide through the chapters, each character’s voice will be provided by a well-known actor.
The Harry Potter franchise’s previous audiobooks were narrated by the one and only Stephen Fry, but those duties on Audible’s full-cast versions will be handled by Cush Jumbo. The glut of names announced so far includes Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore, Keira Knightley as Professor Umbridge, Matthew Macfadyen as Voldemort, Riz Ahmed as Professor Snape, and James McAvoy as Mad-Eye Moody.
Among the latest batch of cast announcements is Bill Nighy as Professor Slughorn, Audible has confirmed. Harry Potter movie fans may remember that Nighy portrayed the Ministry of Magic’s Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.
The announcement also lists Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Professor Trelawney, Mackenzie Crook as Kreacher, Stephen Mangan as Nearly Headless Nick, and Millie Gubby as Luna Lovegood. The Draco Malfoy role will be split between Jude Farrant and Maximus Evans (from book 4 onward).
Nighy’s movie role was relatively minor, so the switch from wizarding politics to teaching potions at Hogwarts shouldn’t be too jarring for listeners. Nighy will be stepping into the shoes of Jim Broadbent, his co-star from 2003’s The Young Visitors and 2011’s Arthur Christmas.
Bill Nighy’s casting in the Audible retelling comes as part of a wider crossover of faces between the original movies, HBO’s in-development Harry Potter TV series, the new audiobooks, and the stage show for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Tom Felton has switched from screen to stage to play Lucius Malfoy, Warwick Davis is reprising Professor Flitwick for HBO, and Arabella Stanton will be Hermione in both the new TV series and the new audiobooks. As the various Harry Potter casts continue to blend, one must question whether having so many adaptations is strictly necessary, especially when the movie series adapted the novels with such success.
Of course, the ongoing controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling’s stance on trans rights remains a factor too, especially following the author’s recent criticism of Emma Watson. Cast members for both the HBO series and the Audible audiobooks have fielded questions about boycott calls from fans, and such discourse only amplifies doubts over whether the Harry Potter franchise needs to be revisited in visual or audio form at this point.
Audible’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone debuts November 4.
Source: Audible/Pottermore